Equity Components [Axis] Common Stock Preferred Stock par value $0.0001 Additional Paid-In Capital Common Stock Issuable Accumulated Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Office Equipment and Furniture Building Land Building Improvements Machinery and Equipment Preferred Stock Additional Paid-In Capital - Warrants Additional Paid-In Capital - Beneficial Conversion Feature Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Stock Options Restricted Stock Units Warrants Debt Instrument [Axis] November 2018 Range [Axis] Issue Date January 2019 Award Type [Axis] Stock Option 1 Stock Option 2 Stock Option 3 Equity Incentive Plan Warrants 1 Warrants 2 Warrants 3 Liability Class [Axis] Long-term Debt Liability Class [Axis] Level 2 Income Tax Authority [Axis] Canada Geographical [Axis] Investissement Québec Financing Facility Term Loan Nature of Expense [Axis] External Engineering Employee Compensation Machinery and Equipment Expenditures Demonstration Plant Operating Expenses Other Professional Fees Directors and Officers Insurance Research and Development Expenses General and Administrative Expenses Québec Canada and Québec Cover [Abstract] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer? Is Entity a Voluntary Filer? Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? Entity Filer Category Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Small Business Entity Shell Company Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Entity File Number Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Sales tax, tax credits and other receivables (Note 3) Prepaid expenses Total current assets Investment in joint venture Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 4) Intangible assets, net (Note 5) Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 7) Current portion of long-term debt (Note 9) Total current liabilities Long-term debt (Note 9) Total liabilities Stockholders' Equity Series A Preferred stock par value $0.0001; 25,000,000 shares authorized; one share issued and outstanding (Note 12) Common stock par value $0.0001; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 42,413,619 shares issued and outstanding (2020 - 39,910,774) (Note 12) Additional paid-in capital Additional paid-in capital - Warrants Accumulated deficit Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Series A Preferred stock, par value Series A Preferred stock, share authorised Series A Preferred stock, share issued Series A Preferred stock, share outstanding Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares outstanding Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Revenue Operating Expenses Research and development (Notes 13 and 15) General and administrative (Notes 14 and 15) Write-down and impairment of property, plant and equipment (Note 5) Depreciation and amortization (Notes 4 and 5) Interest and other financial expenses (Note 18) Interest income Foreign exchange loss (gain) Total operating expenses Net loss Other Comprehensive Loss Foreign currency translation adjustment Comprehensive loss Loss per share Basic and diluted Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic and diluted Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Beginning balance, shares Beginning balance, amount Issuance of common shares for cash, net of share issuance costs (Note 12), shares Issuance of common shares for cash, net of share issuance costs (Note 12), amount Issuance of shares for legal settlement (Note 20), shares Issuance of shares for legal settlement (Note 20), amount Issuance of shares upon conversion of convertible notes (Note 10), shares Issuance of shares upon conversion of convertible notes (Note 10), amount Issuance of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units (Note 15), shares Issuance of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units (Note 15), amount Issuance of shares upon the cashless exercise of stock options (Note 15), shares Issuance of shares upon the cashless exercise of stock options (Note 15), amount Issuance of shares upon exercise of warrants (Notes 10 and 17), shares Issuance of shares upon exercise of warrants (Notes 10 and 17), amount Issuance of warrants for financing facility (Notes 9 and 17) Issuance of warrant for services (Note 17) Expiration of warrants (Notes 10 and 17) Stock options granted for services (Note 15) Restricted stock units issued for services (Note 15) Foreign currency translation Net loss Ending balance, shares Ending Balance, amount Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash Flows from Operating Activities Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Stock-based compensation (Note 15) Write-down and impairment of property, plant and equipment (Note 4) Accretion, and accrued interest (Note 18) Deferred financing costs Gain on conversion of convertible notes (Notes 10 and 18) Other, net Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Valued added tax and tax credits receivable Prepaid expenses Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Net cash used in operating activities Cash Flows from Investing Activities Investment in a joint venture (Note 8) Additions to property, plant and equipment (Note 4) Additions to intangible assets (Note 5) Net cash used in investing activities Cash Flows from Financing Activities Proceeds from sales of common shares and exercise of warrants, net of share issuance costs (Note 12) Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt (Note 9) Payment of accrued interest on convertible notes (Note 10) Repayment of long-term debt Net cash provided by financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes Net change in cash Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents, end of year Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: Income tax paid Interest paid Interest received Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] The Company and Basis of Presentation Accounting Policies [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Receivables [Abstract] Sales Tax, Tax Credits and Other Receivables Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] Intangible Assets Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Payables and Accruals [Abstract] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] Joint Venture Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Long-Term Debt Convertible Notes Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Related Party Transactions Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Research and Development Expense [Abstract] Research and Development Expenses General and Administrative Expense [Abstract] General and Administrative Expenses Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract] Share-Based Payments Equity [Abstract] Equity Incentive Plan Warrants Interest And Other Finance Costs Interest and Other Finance Costs Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Taxes Litigation Settlement [Abstract] Legal Settlement Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Events Use of estimates Fair value of financial instruments Government grants Deferred financing costs and other transaction costs Foreign currency translations and transactions Property, plant and equipment Research and development expenses Intangible assets Stock-based compensation Income taxes Net loss per share Recent accounting pronouncements Property and equipment estimated useful lives Sales tax, tax credits and other receivables Property, plant and equipment Intangible assets Fair value of financial liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Long-term debt Principal repayments Convertible notes Stock issued during the period Research and development expenses General and administrative expenses Stock option activity Stock options outstanding RSU activity Equity incentive plan Warrant activity Warrants outstanding Interest and other finance costs Components of loss before taxes Income tax rate reconciliation Deferred income tax assets and liabilities Long-Lived Tangible Asset [Axis] Statistical Measurement [Axis] Estimated useful life Dilutive securities Sales tax Research and development tax credits Other receivables Sales tax, research and development tax credits and other receivables Adjustments made to prior year estimates of refundable tax credits Reduction of research and development expenses Research and development tax credits Wage subsidy Government grants Non-cash research and development tax credits Property, plant and equipment, gross Less: accumulated depreciation Property, plant and equipment, net Depreciation expense Write-down and impairment expenses Purchase of machinery and equipment Intangible assets, cost Intangible assets, accumulated depreciation Total Add: additions in the year Deduct: amortization of intangibles Deduct: foreign exchange effect Total Amortization expense Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Carrying amount Fair value Trade accounts payable Accrued engineering fees Accrued employee compensation and payroll taxes Accrued professional fees Other accrued liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Principal amount Unamortized discount Accrued interest Less: current portion Long-term debt, net of current portion February 28, 2022 February 28, 2023 February 28, 2024 February 29, 2025 February 28, 2026 Thereafter Total Interest expense Accretion expense Repayment Interest paid Convertible notes - liability Accrued interest - liability Deferred financing costs Total Warrants - liability Beneficial conversion option - equity Warrants - equity Accretion expense Interest expense Issuance of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units (Note 12), shares Issuance of shares upon vesting of restricted stock units (Note 12), amount Issuance of shares upon the cashless exercise of stock options (Note 12), shares Issuance of shares upon the cashless exercise of stock options (Note 12), amount Issuance of shares upon exercise of warrants (Notes 12 and 15), shares Issuance of shares upon exercise of warrants (Notes 12 and 15), amount Issuance of shares for legal settlement (Note 18), shares Issuance of shares for legal settlement (Note 18), amount Issuance of shares upon conversion of convertible notes (Note 10 and Note 12), shares Issuance of shares upon conversion of convertible notes (Note 10 and Note 12), amount Research and development expenses General and administrative expenses Number of options outstanding, beginning Number of options, granted Number of options, exercised Number of options, forfeited Number of options, expired Number of options outstanding, ending Number of options outstanding, exercisable Weighted average exercise price outstanding, beginning Weighted average exercise price, granted Weighted average exercise price, exercised Weighted average exercise price, forfeited Weighted average exercise price, expired Weighted average exercise price outstanding, ending Weighted average exercise price outstanding, exercisable Exercise price Number of stock options, outstanding Number of stock options, exercisable Weighted average remaining life, outstanding Weighted average remaining life, exercisable Number of units outstanding, beginning Number of units, granted Number of units, vested Number of units, forfeited Number of units outstanding, ending Number of units outstanding vested, ending Weighted average exercise price outstanding, beginning Weighted average exercise price, granted Weighted average exercise price, vested Weighted average exercise price, forfeited Weighted average exercise price outstanding, ending Weighted average exercise price outstanding vested, ending Stock-based compensation expense attributable to stock options Stock-based compensation attributable to RSUs Stock-based compensation expense Share reserve increase Units granted Units forfeited Units expired Number of units, issued Number of units, exercised Number of units, expired Weighted average exercise price, issued Weighted average exercise price, exercised Weighted average exercise price, expired Expiration date Number of warrants outstanding Weighted average exercise price Interest on long-term debt Interest on convertible notes Amortization of deferred finance costs Revaluation of warrants Gain on conversion of November 2018 Notes Other Interest and other finance costs U.S. operations Foreign operations Loss before taxes Statutory federal rate Federal income tax at statutory rate Effect of foreign jurisdiction Non-deductible expenses Tax credits related to research and development expenditures Unrecognized tax benefit of net operating losses and other available deductions Effective income tax expense Current Deferred Deferred Tax Assets Canada net operating loss carry forward U.S. net operating loss carry forward Accrual and reserves Intangibles Property, plant and equipment Research and development expenditures and credits Other Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Liabilities Property, plant and equipment Intangibles Accrual and reserves Investment tax credits Unrealized foreign exchange Other Deferred tax liabilities Deferred tax asset Valuation allowance Deferred tax asset, net Net operating loss carry forwards Increase in valuation allowance Research and development expenditures Custom Element. Assets, Current Assets [Default Label] Liabilities, Current Liabilities Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Liabilities and Equity Interest and Dividend Income, Operating Foreign Currency Transaction Gain, before Tax Operating Expenses [Default Label] Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted Shares, Issued Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Gross ConversionGainsAndLossesOnCovertibleNotes Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Repayments of Convertible Debt Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] ResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesDisclosureTextBlock GeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesDisclosureTextBlock Office equipment and furniture [Member] WarrantsAndRightsNoteDisclosureTextBlock Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block] Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] ResearchAndDevelopmentExpensesTableTextBlock SalesTaxResearchAndDevelopmentTaxCreditsAndOtherReceivables ResearchAndDevelopmentTaxCredits Proceeds from Grantors Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Default Label] Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount Interest Paid, Including Capitalized Interest, Operating and Investing Activities Intellectual property agreement [Member] Convertible Notes Payable Accretion Expense Interest Expense, Debt NumberOfOptionsExercised Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Expirations in Period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Number Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeitures, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue GainOnConversionOfNovember2018Notes Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) InterestAndOtherFinanceCosts Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Interest Expense, Interest Income, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interests, Net Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Foreign, Amount Unrecognized tax benefit of net operating losses and other available deductions Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred Tax Assets, Property, Plant and Equipment Deferred Tax Assets, Other Deferred Tax Assets, Gross, Current Deferred Tax Liabilities, Property, Plant and Equipment Deferred Tax Liabilities, Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesAccrualAndReserves Deferred Tax Liabilities, Unrealized Currency Transaction Gains Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance